Hat construction



March l, 1932- E. P. CUNNINGHAM, JR., ET ALA 1,848,049

HAT CONSTRUCTION Filed Feb* '7, 1951 i I l f. I I I l I 4 Munnnnnnuuuu n,...

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Y further comprises processes wherein a water-` ic' Patented Mar. 1, 1932 jira STATES 'rr ovarica EDWARD PQ CUNNINGHAM, JR., OF ROCHELLE, 'AND ALPHONSE E. RIOUX, OF n ROCKVILLE CENTER NEW YORK, ASSIGNOESTO EDWARD P. CUNNINGHAM, INC., OF.

NEW YORK, N Y., A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK naar coNsrRUc'rioN y ApplicatonledFebruary?, 1931. Serial No. 514,278.

This invention relates to hat construction and it comprises a hat having a bodycomposed of straw,- felt or other permeablematerial, an outer" ornamental band, an inner l sweat band and stitches or threads holding the outer and inner bands in place, the stitches, or'some of them, being 4waterproofed against passage of perspiration therein; 1t

proofing vagent is appliedv to thestitchesafter thehathas been partlyor wholly assembled, as'will be more fully hereinafterA described.

` A Ourrinvention is primarilyfconcerned with preventing the staining and "discoloration of l' the ornamental textile bands of straw and felt hats due to perspiration. After a short period: o f-.use especially on warm days, thesebands, usually made of silk or other expen-V sive fabric,'are invariably soiled as a result of perspiration passing from the forehead of the wearer through the body of the hat and saturating the outer ornamental band. The. problem of preventing this Vundesirable phenomenon has been a long standing one.l Many solutions have been proposedfandthese have generally consisted in disposing somefsort of waterproof liner or strip between the sweat.v

band and the body of the hat.- Although a Y large number ofpatents; have been granted J for expedients of this kind, the problem` still persists. t Of late,it has been consideredthat most, if not all, of the perspiration vworks itsV way through the holes in the leather sweat4 Vband through which the stitches or threads :if holding the sweat band to the hat also pass.

Accordingly, it as recently been suggested to coat the inner surface of the sweat band,

that is, the Vrough surface adjacent thebody.

of the hat, with a lm or coating of-rubber if on that portion ofthe sweat band through' which the stitches pass. This expedient has been founded upon the theory'that the film of rubber about the hole or perforation in the sweat band will tend to contractabout the stitch or thread passingk therethrough,

preventing egress of the perspirationv in .this

manner. n p

- The sweat band in fold function; -V It vprovides a soft cushion against the` forehead andv holds the hat inV avhat performs a twol place.l Moreoverfthe sweat band is absorbent they inner surface of the'sweat band -adja-` cent the body of the Vhat be "substantially free of a film of rubber whichwould preventl such normal .evaporation if the full usefulness of the sweat bandis to be realized. f

We have now determined that, in contrast with'coimncnly heldbeliefs, vmost of the per-p spiration soiling the--ornamental band Hows lby capillary action through the threads or' stitches holdingvthc sweatfband and ornamental band to the hat, thus :passes into and through the felt or :straw body and finally to the outside offthehat where itthenpdiscolors vthe ornamental band. This discovery probably accounts for the yfailure of liners, waterproof strips, andthe like to-prevent soiling because little, vif any, perspiration' ac-' tually passes froin' the leather of vthe .sweat band to thebody of the hatby mere mechanical contactof the sweat bandwith the hat.`

Mcstof 'the V.perspiiation which actually passesv through vthe sweat band will evapo` ratei'from the y surface` thereof `neXt to the hat. Y l

We have now" found that hats ofthis type Y'can be 'completely protected against perspirationv stains provided lthe thread or,k stitches `joining the ornamental band to the body ofthe hat are wa-terproofed with a suitable waterproofing agent. Moreover, in our invention, .we also waterproof the stitches holding' the sweatfband to the hat and seal1 theV seam defining the lower meeting edge of the sweat'bandlwith the hat body. `By these Jfthree expedientavchiefiy either vor both `the rst and second one, we effectively seal' all those portions of the hatthrough whichper` spiration can fiow and thus .prevent the passage of the perspiration*from the head of the wearer to theoutside of the body of the hat and to the ornamental band encirclingit.

VVaterp'rooiing the threads holding theornamental band in place prevents any'perspiration which `has A.worked through Vthe Figure l is a cross section of a conventional hat,

Fig. 2 is an enlarged cross section showing the position of the stitches in greater detail, o

Fig. Sis also a cross sectional view of a portion of the hat showing the point of applicationy of thewaterprooing agent,

Fig.. 4 isa view of a section of the hat body showing the position of the threads which hold the ornamental band to the outside of the body, and A Fig; 5 illustrates one method of applying the'y waterproofingA agent to the hat after it has heenfabricated.

In the. drawings like reference characters referto like elements.

Referring more particularly to Fig. l, 1 is a=conventional hat body which may be composed of felt, straw or other typical hat ma.` terial. he hat body is provided with an ornamental band 2 on the outside thereof and ana inner sweat band 3. The sweat band is held to the hat by stitches 4, more clearly shown inFigures 2, Sand 5 and the orna-V mental outer band is held by stitches 5.

Stitches 4 are generally applied by a machine stitching operation, Fig. V5 indicatingv the-row off stitches collectively at 8. These stitches do not ordinarily pass all the way through 4the body of the hat. They take the position shown in the drawings. The outer band is stitched by hand or machine and the stitches are rather far apa-rt as shown at 5 in Fig. 4, the showing in Fig. 4 being the inner surface of the hat body with the stitches passing theretl'nough. Stitches 5 pass complete` ly through the body of the hat` and extend along, the interior thereof between the sweat bandandthe hat as shown in Fig.- 4.

Fig. 3 illustrates the point of application of our waterproofing material to the threads. The waterproofing, agent is applied to that portion of the threads as at 9 lying between the" sweat band 3 and the body of the hat l. Te do not ordinarily apply the waterprcof ing agent to the stitches on theoutside of the sweat band shown at l() in Figs. 2 and 3. Upon application of the waterproofing agent,

the stitches or threads become saturated therewith so that they are no longer permeable to moisture or perspiration.

The waterproong agent flows along and into the threads so as to saturate them for some distance into the felt body of the hat. The liow of perspiration is effectively blockerV in the stitches themselves and thus no perspiration can pass through them to and throughthe body of the hat and to the exterior band. In Fig. 5 we have illustrated one conveiiient way of practicing our invention. After the. hat has been assembled in the usual manner, we bend down the sweat band 3, or even turn-it inside out so that access to the row of stitches is had* The waterproofing compound can then easily be applied by an ordinary brushto the row of stitches at point 9. During this waterprooling process the stitches 5 which hold the ornamental band to the bodyof the hat are also impregnated with waterproofing agent and if this has not been done to the required degree we deliberately coat that portion of the hat body along: the line of 'stitches 5v as shown by the shading 11.

In our invention, we avoid coatingthe sweat band with the waterproofing agent in-V sofar as `possible and 'do not rely upon anyc waterproofing of the sweat band itself. During. the waterproong of the threads 4 at point 9 thereofsome .of the waterproofing agent may accidentally' coat the sweat band but such is regarded as an unavoidable loss of waterproofing agent and unnecessary to the successof our invention. Y

In fact, coatingof the sweat band is also detrimental because it decreases the area of the sweat band available for the normal evaporation of perspiration as previously eX- plaineolf.V i Y l When using` silk sweat bands in. lightweight hats, we take care that none of the waterproofing agent coats the silk band and rely chiefly upon waterproofing the stitches 5 which hold the ornamental outer band in place; Y

During the waterproofing operation, some ofthe waterproofing material tends to flowy in between the' sweat band 3 and the body ot the hat l beneath the threads 4 so that a waterproof' seal is lestablished between the loweredge of the sweat band and the hat as illustrated at 6 in Figures 3 and 5. TWhile this is'not essential, such sealing ot the seam 6 prevents any'l moisture from flowing down along the outer portion of the sweat band and up between the sweat band and the body of the hat.

In the practice of our invention, the holes in the sweat band through which the stitches or threads pass are sealed or lled but we do not rely upon any contraction of a rubber film about the threads. The amo-unt of waterband itself is minute `and insufhcient to form any sort of contracting rubber film about the Y threads. Furthermore, our .waterproofing 5 agent is applied. to the threadsholding the sweat band after-the hat hasfbeen fabricated sov that the only effect of the waterproofing material on the sweat band itself isjto seal the holes through which the stitchespass.

In a modification of our invention, we waterproof the stitches 5 which' hold the ornamental band in place and vwaterproof the area 1l shown in Figure l prio-r to stitching in the sweat band. After stitches 5 have. been waterproofed, the sweat band is then sewed in the hat and the waterproofing agent applied to stitches 4 as described.

, When applying the waterproofing agent to the body of the hat along the line of. stitches 5 before the sweat band has been stitched in place, we find it vadvantageous to coat the body of the hat at the junction of the crown with the brim beneath the row "of'stitches 5 so lthat when the sweat band is stitched in contact with a waterproofed area 12. lNhen the Vwaterproofing agent is applied Vtothe area 12, both the stitches passing'through the sweat band and those encircling its lower saturated or impregnated with a rubber com'- v pound or with paraffine or other waterproofing agent and simply stitch the sweat band in place by means of such a thread. rlhis works very well provided the stitches 5 holding the ornamental band in position have been waterproofed as described. Y,

Generally, we apply the waterproofing ma* terial to the thread about the whole circumference of the hat l. l/Ve can decrease the expense of applying' the waterproofing agent by simply waterproofing the threads in the forehead portion of the hat. It is well recognized that most of the soiling and discoloran tion of the ornamental band occurs inthe front of the hat wherethe sweat band con-r tacts with the forehead of the user. How Yever, very often a felt or straw hatV will develop a ring of discoloration encircling the brim cf the hat for a distance of as much as an inch outwardly from the crown. vThis is especially noticeable in light colored felt and straw hats and is possibly due to dirt adhern ing to the brim because it yhas become wet to some extent with perspiration. Our invention completely prohibits this ifsaturation of the threads around the wholecircumference of the hat is practiced. s

In thepractice of our invention, a number of dilierent waterproofing'agents are avail-` able. Y Among the best of these are various freely flowing rubber cements. A latex cef most suitable and convenient. We are aware that it has the hat the lower end of the sweat band is in..

edge are forced to pass through the rsection ment,or other water base cement is especially advantageous ,because such Vcements or was terproofing agents. rapidly saturatev vthe. threads.r The latex may be of vthe type to which sulfur has been added. lt may be a aqueous dispersion of rubber in water. There area number of such rubber preparations onV the market and we do 'not wish to be restricted in regard to any particular cement.

vspo-called artificial latex which consists of van thatthe threads become fully saturated with 4the agent.

waterproofing agents, and numerous other compositions commonly used for waterproofingpurposes, can also'be used but for all laraffine wax emulsions, aqueous casein ractical ur oses a' .latex re Jaration 1s Y y been suggested inthe prior art to apply one or more linings between the sweat'band andthe body of the vhat and to coat, lbut not saturate, certain of the stitches holding such linings to the body 1 yof the hat with shellac.` We do not therefore claim this method of construction. Our

invention is primarily directed to thevprotecy tion of an `ordinary hat, assembled in the Yordinary way withthe ordinaryelements, and

not a hat fabricated with one or more liners between the sweat band and body of the hat,

the sweat banditselfbeing stitched'to the 'i liners and not thehat body. @ur invention dispenses 'with .such liners orzattachment ,stripslandwe waterproofthe actual stitches vwhich uniteeither or both the sweat band and j Vornamental band directly to the body of the hat. i

ln view ofthe foregoing it will bel appar-v ent that our invention vblocks orvseals lall portions of the assembled hat through which perspiration can gain access to the ornamental band and Vto the brim of the hat. i

Our method of protecting a hat against soiling due to perspiration has a number of advantages. Among them are the absence of any water-proof strips or liners disposed between the sweat rband and the body of the hat. Whensuch are employed they increase the-use `of specially treated. sweat bands since the .hat is fabricated in theordinaryway and, by a simple operation uponthe hat afterv it has been made, flow of perspiration't'o 'the exterior band. and soiling thereby is effectively prevented. lt will be apparent that kour method is also adaptable tohats whichhave been usedv for some time andjcan be appliedby n .the weight of thehat and decrease the inner Y v `.the .practice of ourinventiondoes notinvolve the renovator when the hat is being cleaned and reblocked. It ldesired. an ornamental band which has become soiled due to perspiration can be replaced by a vclean band and at the Sametime the clean band can be completely protected against soiling and discoloration by the application of a waterproofing agent in the manner which we have described.

What is claimed is:

l. A hat comprising a hat body, an ornamental band ailixed to the body by stitches, and a sweat band iXed to the body by stitches, so that the sweat band is in direct contact with the body of the hat itself, the stitches joining the ornamental band and the sweat band to the hat body being saturated with a waterproofing agent to. render them im; permeable to the passage of perspiration at least in the portion of said stitches lying between the sweat band and the body of' the hat.v

2. A hat including a hat body and a sweat band directly stitched thereto, so that the sweat band is in direct contact with the body of the hat itself, the threads constituting the stitches being saturated with a waterinterior of a hat body with a waterproofing agent along the longitudinal area roughly defined by the line of stitches which hold the ornamental band in place, then sewing the sweat band in the hat and then waterproofing the stitches holding the sweat band by the application thereto of a waterproofing agent between the sweat band and the hat body.v

In testimony whereof, we aX our signatures.

EDl/VARD P. CUNNINGHAM, Jn. ALPHONSE E. RIOUX.

proofing agent to render themA impermeable Y to perspiration in the portion thereof between the band and the body.

3. A hat including a hat body and a sweat band directly stitched thereto s o that the sweat band is in direct Contact with the body of the hat itself, the threads constituting said stitches being saturated with rubber in the portion thereof lying between the lying band and the body whereby the threads are rendered impermeable to perspiration.

Ll. A hat including a hat body and an ornamental band stitched thereto, the threads constituting said stitches being saturated with a waterprooing agent to render them impermeable to perspiration at least in those portions thereof which lie along the inner surf face of the hat body.

5. A hat including a hat body and an ornamental band aixed thereto by stitches the inner surface of the hat being impregnated with a waterproong agent along the line of stitches holding the band in place.

6. The process of protecting the outer ornamental band of a hat having an inner sweat band directly stitched to the hat so that the hat body and sweat band are in direct contact with each other, against discoloration due to perspiration which comprises applying a liquid waterproofing agent to the threads holding the sweat band to the hat at a point between the sweat band and the hat after the sweat band has been stitched in place whereby the threads themselves become saturated Vwith the waterproofing agent at least in those portions of the threads which lying between the inner surface of the hat body and the surface of the sweat band which is in contact with the hat body.

7. The process which comprises coating the 

